After Tuesday morning’s announcement, Chambers Works Plant Manager Marc Holman told the site’s 780 employees “regarding the global staff reductions mentioned in the announcement, there will be a very minimal impact to our plant operations, as these actions primarily address corporate and functional groups worldwide.”

The earnings results fell short of analysts’ estimate of 46 cents per share, according to FactSet. DuPont shares fell 9 percent in Tuesday trading, contributing to a broad market decline.

DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman attributed the disappointing results to weaker-than-expected demand for titanium dioxide — a whitening pigment used in products ranging from paint and plastics to toothpaste — and overcapacity and uncertainty in the market for photovoltaic solar energy products.

Kullman said the restructuring includes eliminating about 1,500 positions globally over the next 12 to 18 months.

The cuts involve streamlining headquarters and corporate staffs that supported the performance coatings unit, which produces automotive and industrial paints.

The 1,500 job cuts, coupled with the divestiture of some 11,000 jobs in performance coatings, would leave DuPont with a global workforce of about 57,500, down from about 79,000 at the end of 2002.

DuPont shares closed down $4.51, or 9 percent, at $45.25 at the end of the trading day Tuesday.

The stock has changed hands between $43.06 and $57.50 in the past 12 months, and is now down about 1 percent since the start of the year.